Writing this piece is particularly difficult after 39 years with VANGUARD. Usually, I support my older friends and political colleagues over their opponents, but this situation involves familiar, tiresome arguments between former President Obasanjo and former Governor Osoba that feel like old, uninspired drama.
My history with the progressive camp began through my family and my connection to the late Chief Bola Ige. My skepticism regarding the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and Afenifere leadership emerged in 2003 when they inexplicably agreed not to challenge Obasanjo for the presidency. I argued then that this move was political suicide. The AD leadership was naive to trust a military-trained politician like Obasanjo, and my warnings to Chief Ayo Adebanjo were met with dismissiveness and eventually a demand that I leave his office.
Chief Segun Osoba, a man of high ethics, was unfortunately caught in this trap. While he honored the deal, Obasanjo did not. Osoba faced an unexpected defeat to Gbenga Daniel, while only Bola Tinubu managed to preserve his state’s position by refusing to follow the failed consensus. The movement in the South-West was crippled by this error.
Current arguments over Osoba’s book and Obasanjo’s reaction are unproductive. Obasanjo’s tendency to engage in public feuds—whether with Fayose, Atiku, or others—only diminishes his standing as a statesman. It is disappointing to see a national leader repeatedly debase his status by trading insults and airing grievances in the public eye. Both sides would be better served by ending these pointless, stale disputes.
